Part 8, Chapters 18-22 Summary

Maria Dmitrievna has come across Sonya weeping in the corridor. Sonya confesses everything, Maria reads the letter, and that's how Maria Dmitrievna knows Anatole is coming. Maria lectures Natasha but then keeps the matter private, not even telling Count Rostov. Pierre has been avoiding Natasha because he has feelings for her that he thinks a married man should not have for the betrothed of his friend. Maria Dmitrievna writes to him, summoning him to her to talk about a matter regarding Bolkonsky and Natasha. Maria Dmitrievna tells Pierre the whole story. She wants him to tell Anatole, his brother-in-law, to leave Moscow. Maria Dmitrievna tells Natasha that Anatole is already married to a Polish woman. She doesn't believe Maria, so she asks Pierre if it's true. She believes Pierre. Pierre immediately goes to find Anatole, who is dining with...